The link between hypertension and stroke

Abstract

Introduction: Diet plays a crucial role in managing hypertension and preventing stroke. This study explores how different dietary patterns influence blood pressure and stroke risk in hypertensive patients. Objective: To investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and their impact on hypertension and stroke risk among hypertensive patients. Methods: At Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, 58 hypertension patients with a stroke history participated in a cross-sectional study. Three dietary patterns were found by main component analysis of the food frequency questionnaire used to measure dietary intake: traditional, western, and health-conscious. Blood pressure readings were taken, and the relationship between eating habits and stroke risk was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results: Lower systolic (140 ± 12 mm Hg) and diastolic (90 ± 8 mm Hg) blood pressure was recorded in participants following a health-conscious diet pattern than in those following Traditional (150 ± 15 mm Hg systolic, 95 ± 10 mm Hg diastolic) or Western (160 ± 18 mm Hg systolic, 100 ± 12 mm Hg diastolic). Stroke risk was increased with the Western eating pattern (OR = 1.35, p = 0.005) and decreased with the health-conscious pattern (OR = 0.75, p = 0.020). Conclusion: Dietary habits have a big impact on how well hypertensive people control their blood pressure and how likely stroke is. Changing to a health-conscious diet can help control hypertension and lower the risk of stroke, which emphasizes the importance of dietary therapies and public health initiatives to encourage good eating habits.